Facebook Goes Solar in Singapore: Sembcorp Powers Their Data Giant
In a sunny twist of corporate strategy, Sembcorp Industries has just inked a 20‑year partnership with the tech giant Facebook. The deal will shower the platform’s brand‑new 170,000‑square‑metre data centre, plus its other Singapore operations, with clean, green power.
What the Agreement Actually Means
- All the electricity coming from a stack of 50 megawatt‑peak solar panels — that’s a lot of rooftops, about 900 of them.
- The panels will sit on whatever roof land you can squeeze onto in the space‑constrained island state between the end of this year and 2020.
- Facebook will receive only 100 % renewable energy from this surplus, meaning no cold batteries or fossil fuel backups.
Why This Matters for Facebook
With this deal, Sembcorp becomes Facebook’s first renewable energy partner in Asia. Before this, the platform had to rely on conventional power sources. The agreement marks a big step towards completely greening its Singapore hub.
Voices from the Front Lines
Koh Chiap Khiong (Sembcorp’s Energy Boss): “We’re all about helping clients meet their power demands while also ticking the environmental boxes. This partnership proves we can do both.”
Bobby Hollis (Facebook’s Global Energy Lead): “We’re starting simple and huge at the same time—supporting our core Singapore sites fully with renewable energy.”
Backstory: Sembcorp’s Renewable Journey
- Current portfolio: 2,500 MW of wind and solar power spread across Singapore, China, and India.
- Target set to double renewables by 2022 and cut carbon intensity by about 25 %.
Despite the green buzz, the contract isn’t expected to swing Sembcorp’s earnings per share or net asset value for the 2028‑12 31 fiscal year, meaning shareholders can breathe easy.
Bottom Line
Picture this: a massive data centre humming with the power of the sun, standing as a beacon of eco‑friendly tech in Singapore’s bustling skyline. Sembcorp and Facebook have joined forces to make that picture a reality — and it feels good to say, “Better together, greener together.”
